Bear Creek Regional Park
Conservation Easement Project
El Paso County Commissioner Sallie Clark, as the representative for District 3 and the area of Bear Creek
Regional Park, has been working with the El Paso County Parks Advisory Board and interested citizens in an effort to create a conservation easement over Bear Creek Regional Park. The conservation easement will help preserve and protect Bear Creek Regional Park as a park /open space into the future.
A conservation easement is a binding legal agreement between a landowner and a qualified conservation organization that protects land with conservation values. El Paso County Parks currently has approximately 25% of all County park property under conservation easement.
A citizens group appointed by the El Paso County Park Advisory Board has been meeting and researching the project since 2012 and has facilitated several community meetings where significant support was expressed for the project of a conservation easement.
The benefits of the conservation easement include the following:
 Helps ensure that Bear Creek Regional Park will be preserved as park land / open space in perpetuity
 Provides a balance between active and passive uses
 Provides storm water management benefits
 Helps maintain area property values
 Preserves:
 Visual relief / scenic views
 Open space buffer
 Wetlands / riparian corridor habitat along Bear Creek
 Continued opportunities for community recreation
 Wildlife habitat
The conservation easement is proposed to utilize zones that determine the uses within the park.
Please find below a description of the zones. Please also see the attached zone map.
Zone 1
Trails, benches, interpretive signage, and wildlife viewing
Zone 2
Improvements are limited to 10% of total acreage and may include picnic facilities, pavilions, playgrounds, parking, kiosks, interpretive signage, and access roads
Zone 3
Roads, parking lots, trailheads, trails, nature centers, dog parks, gardens, permitted athletic facilities, pavilions, park support facilities
* Proposed improvements with the respective zone must align with the updated Master Plan for Bear Creek
Regional Park.

The El Paso County Board of Commissioners unanimously supports proceeding to the fundraising phase of this project which includes raising $17,500 for the Palmer Land Trust’s (PLT) one-time conservation easement administrative / stewardship fee. We are thankful for PLT’s support by providing a discounted fee for our project.
If we are successful with the fundraising drive, please find below the next steps:
1. Prepare conservation easement documents in cooperation with the Palmer Land Trust.
2. Seek Park Advisory Board endorsement of the conservation easement documents.
3. Seek approval of the conservation easement documents from the Board of County
Commissioners and the Palmer Land Trust Board of Trustees.
For more information, please contact:
Tim Wolken, Director
Community Services Department timwolken@elapasoco.com
Bear Creek Regional Park
Conservation Easement Project Fundraising Drive
Frequently Asked Questions
2.
1. How long will the fundraising drive last?
Our goal is to complete the fundraising drive this spring.
What if we do not collect enough funds?
We are confident that there is sufficient community support to raise the needed funds. However, if we are unsuccessful, all contributions will be returned.
3. What if we collect more funds than the fundraising goal?
If additional funds are collected above the $17,500 goal for the Palmer Land Trust administrative / monitoring fees, the excess funds will be used for miscellaneous costs with the conservation easement process (baseline study,…) and for improvement projects at Bear Creek Regional Park based on input from the Friends of Bear Creek Regional Park.

4. How will donors be recognized?
Donor names will be posted on the Conservation Easement webpage and will be publicly thanked at upcoming Park Advisory Board and Board of County Commissioner meetings.
5. What are the next steps after we complete the fundraising drive?
A. Prepare conservation easement documents in cooperation with the Palmer Land
Trust.
B. Seek Park Advisory Board endorsement of the conservation easement documents.
C. Seek approval of the conservation easement documents from the Board of
County Commissioners and the Palmer Land Trust Board of Trustees.